INTRODUCTION TO PACIFIC HISTORY HIS502 Week 1: Lecture 1 Lalita Sharma and Dr. Ryota Nishino Edited by Dr. Gary L. Kieffner

By the end of this unit, you should be able to: Learning Objectives By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

Understand and identify the main characteristics of the countries and the region that we are studying in this unit;

Understand and discuss some of the main developments that have shaped the Pacific Islands; and

Understand in general terms the main theme, questions and various issues that we will examine in this unit.

Where is the Pacific region?

THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

The Pacific region Made up of 22 states and territories. Vary considerably in their size and cultural background, as well as in their political status. Europeans who came to the Pacific in the 19th century grouped different parts of the region into different categories.

GROUPINGS Europeans who came to the Pacific in the 19th century grouped different parts of the region into different categories.

Melanesia (“dark islands”) Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands Vanuatu New Caledonia Fiji (usually) Irian Jaya (West Papua)

Polynesia “many islands” Tonga Wallis and Futuna Western Samoa Tokelau American Samoa Tuvalu Cook Islands New Zealand Tahiti/French Polynesia Hawaii

Micronesia ‘small islands’ Kiribati Marshall Islands Nauru Palau Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Northern Marianas Guam

Think! Why should these islands have European names? Why did these powers want to extend their control over so much territory?  

THE COLONIAL POWERS IN THE PACIFIC EARLY CONTACTS For almost three centuries 1500s to 1800s, the Pacific Islands experienced contact with and settlement of different Europeans. There were: 

Explorers Missionaries Sealers Labour recruiters Whalers Colonial officials Beachcombers Castaways

THE PACIFIC COLONISERS By the end of 19th century, most of the islands were either part of the: British Empire France Germany America

Imperialist interests and Colonial Annexations Imperialism is the “extension of sovereignty or control, whether direct or indirect, political or economic by one government, nation or society over another together with the ideas justifying this process” (Nadel, 1964:1).

The period 1870-1914 is known as the age of new imperialism The period 1870-1914 is known as the age of new imperialism. This is the period when much of Africa, Asia and the Pacific were taken over by the imperial powers of Germany, France and Britain.

The period 1870-1970 in the Pacific was the time of colonialism by Britain, Germany, France and the USA.

Colonialism is the extension of a nation’s rule and control over territory and people outside its own boundaries. Usually in the extending of its power over territory and people, the ruling nation, establishes a central government.

using its own systems of rule and ways of doing things over the colonised people. This meant that changes to existing traditional systems took place.

Colonialism In many cases oceans separated the imperial power from territory that it had gained control over. This meant a lot of expenses for the power concerned, yet they continued to extend their territories.

Difference between colonialism and imperialism? Colonialism entails the population from the conquering nation moving permanently into a conquered territory, and outnumbering or even replacing the original inhabitants.

In colonies, the political, economic and social systems are similar to those of the home countries. In imperialism, a conquering nation exercises power over the conquered territories, either directly or indirectly. Settlers from the conquering nations are small and temporary; they use the local authorities (chiefs, etc.) to rule on their behalf.

Objectives of colonial rule: Economic expansion – to exploit resources, create markets and make profits for the home country and its settlers.

Objectives of colonial rule: Affirm national power by carving out spheres of influence and defence against competing nations.

Objectives of colonial rule: To modernise, convert and educate indigenous populations in the image of the west.

COLONISER BRITAIN BY 18TH CENTURY Britain had lost its colonies in North America when they became independent. Expanded into Australia which served as a penal colony and then later into New Zealand.

British Empire and Colonialism New Imperialism 1875-1914: Canada Newfoundland The Caribbean Islands of Jamaica and Barbados Africa Ireland; and India

The British East India Company Founded in 1600. Obtained most of its raw materials from those parts of the world that were easy to reach from trade posts along India’s shoreline. The Company got the spices, silks and other textiles that were then in great demand back in England.

The British African colonies West Africa ‘Cape to Cairo’ Many more Within a span of 25 years, Britain had almost 30% of Africa’s population under its control.

THE PACIFIC COLONIES Solomon Islands Fiji New Hebrides (Vanuatu) By 1914 Britain had acquired the following colonies in the Pacific: Solomon Islands Fiji New Hebrides (Vanuatu) Gilbert (Kiribati) Islands Norfolk Tokelau

French Imperialism and Colonialism Empire building started in 1600 Acadia in North America. Acadia is now Nova Scotia (Canada). Later, they colonised Quebec. In 1660s, turned to West Indies and set up a profitable sugar colony in Sainte Dominique (Haiti).

Expanded into West Africa, Central Africa, parts of Asia and the Pacific. Became the second largest coloniser, after Britain, by the time of New Imperialism.

By 1914, France had the following colonies in the Pacific: New Caledonia French Polynesia New Hebrides (Vanuatu) Wallis and Futuna

German imperialism and colonialism Africa Pacific South West Africa Rwanda Cameroon Togoland Papua Western Samoa Caroline Islands Northern Mariana Islands Nauru Marshall Islands

American Colonialism By 1900 the USA had a large colonial empire in the Pacific, although it claimed it was not an imperialist nation. 1845 - failed attempt to annex Hawaii but strong US economic influence through US sugar companies 1898 – US acquired Guam (and the Philippines) following the Spanish-American War 1899 – US gained control of the eastern Samoan island (Source: Donnelly, Quanchi & Kerr 1994: 69-70)

Japanese Empire Began colonising in East Asia. Korea and Manchuria: 1905 and 1932. Aggressive expansion: ‘to liberate Asia from Europeans’. Scheme known as the Great East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. Co-prosperity? On whose term?

Japanese colonies in the Pacifics Today’s Micronesia Islands: Northern Marianas Palau Marshall Islands Japan acquired those islands after WWI.

SUMMARY Imperialism and colonialism divided Africa, Asia and the Pacific into colonies for the different imperial powers.

Motives 1. Economic expansion and profiteering from cheap supply of raw materials and labour for their growing industries. 2. Competition was greatest, where each waned to acquire more spheres of influence.

3. Colonisers in the Pacific: mainly Britain, France, Germany and America. They served as penal colonies, and suppliers of raw materials and tropical products and cheap labour. 4. Their ways of administration were different from each other and impacted the traditional systems of authority and ways of life.